The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1887-06-09
INTER SOCIETY CONTEST
Between tile Columbian and Parthenon
Literary Societies.

there is SO much at stake, and when
EVERY student, as well as most Of
the citizens, are excited and eager.
over THE result, the house was lit
orally packed with humanity. Ey-.
cry seat was filled, and the profu-s
sion Of flowers brought into the hall,
the numerous badges Of blue and
white, worn even by the ladies, and
the subdued but plainly visible rip
pie of excitement which passed over
the audience, all indicated the IN.
tense interest occasioned by this
contest between the two literary SO
cieties.
After music, the first declaimer,
Mr.. Edward w. Stifel, Of Wheeling,
the representative of the Columbian
society. was introduced. His recita-
tion was the familiar one "Bene-
dict Arnold IS Death bed
This was one of the best examples
Of defamation. ever heard in Nor
gantoWn, and WouldEhave done cred
it to a professional Ielocutionist.
His every word was heard in the
farthest recesses of the hall dis
tinctly and clearly. His action was
almost perfect. In short, the rem.
dition Of this was almost above
criticism. III ..S.
The next speaker, the Partehnon'
was Mr.. D. j. Jamison, Of Monon-
gala county. He chose as his Sc
lection Speech Of Robert Emmett"
His manner was earnest and forci-
Bile, his voice very clear and his dec
lamation was Of great credit to him
self and society. f .E/-
| I# Music. The selection was q med
ley, and was SO we'll rendered ais to-
excite the widest applause e. III -
/ The next class was essay. The
Parthenon society was represented
on this head by j. 3. Brown, of
Monongalia county, and the Colum-
bian society by MI, Frank Snider,
Of Monongalia county. Mr.. Browns
subject was s::The Political Error of
the Age. ~ @.
| lie began by pleturlng IN q pleas
ing manner the way in which our
government was founded and what
| elen1Hl sof progress were implanted
How all inventions, all improve i
ments ind all classes of society
are introduced into our country.
Hence two classes especially were
numerous the Conservative party
and the Innovators Or Socialists
both trying now to reform the govt
eminent. He next showed the de-
mands and claims of each Of these
parties. We have nothing to fear
| from the Conservative element Of
our citizens, but in many of the or
! thodox doctrines Of the Socialists
| there is much that is pernicious and
dangerous. We have thirty social
istict Journals in the United States
who advocate the downfall Of the
! government Great dangers are ac4
cordingly arising las their doctrines
and numbers are ever multiplying.
/ This chasm must be closed or it
will finally envelop and close over
US. What can be done? We must
shut off the supplies Of the socialist
4 tic army-which is composed chiefly
Of foreign immigrants. Again, we
want better education, and more en-
lightenment. Let US try to obliterE
4 ate this chasm between labor and
capital. Mr.. Browns style is espec+
tally chaste and pleasing. His rank
as an essayist IS Of a high order.
/ He read his paper in . very distinct
manner, and his essay was very
excellent one.
Mr.. Frank Snider, Of Easton, w.
| Va, represented the Columbian lit
erary society on this class. His
| subject was: aOur moral heritage
its abuse
Said he: ss18 centuries ago the
! world received a perfect system Of
morals. Z Then he referred to their
corruption and decline in the dark
ages. Then men finally rebelled
against these heresies and sought d
more perfect life, and in consequence
became martyrs. Such men were:
] CranmeR Hass and others. What
lean we learn from the heroic convic-
ton as shown III the acts Of these
men? Ours is the only country
where all enjoy perfect moral free
dom 80 our progress has surprised
the world. We are the most Chris
tion. nation in the world. We have